New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-03-04
A LITTLE NAVAJO.

As We know, the Nayaios are an Amer can trlDe OF
Indians scattered tor the most part over the terri-
| tories of New. Mexico and Arizona Quite number
OF them 1--we with their families, in the curious little
habtItons they erect about the irontier military
latter place that have had the opportunity tor over
two years past, OF studying man; OF their ways anu
customs Aud it vas here too, that, few days ago.
W, mt out among them with Photographic cameia,
| armed with an English instantaneous shutter Win
the view OF taking few pictures OF them WINE tnoy
actively engaged in some OF then very interesting
| games. ,..,
factory plates, tho Indians became quito FESTIVE, az
they rather object to that sort of thing and as by
| common consent they gradually disappeared, q few
at time makog tor one OF their low, concal. shap',
mud huts, where they entered hrou.h the single sma
door az its side. In less halt bOur there was
none OF them to outside ut all, and, knowing u
we'll that they would not appear lan so long a. re-
NAMED upon the ground. shouldered my instrument
aud prepared to away. AT the time, wac stand
ing between OF their hats situated some three
hundred yards apart, with well. beaten, though
narrow ioopath passing from one to the other There
were 10 trees within quarter OF mile, the pam
being sparsely covered with sage-brush, tho plants
being two to three feet high Just then one OF
their babies todled out OF the doorway OF the upper
hut the child could not have been over ten months
old, and wore only a very dirty little SHIRT WHOM
came about half way down 10 his knees. IL looked
moro ike an infant Eskimo than any child, not white,
| that know any thing about; and 1t started rlSht
down the path with very unateady oaby 'waddIe,
making tor the lower hut, Shere imagine Its mother
had taken refuge trom my mercless esmera l had
often longed for good picture Oi Navajo Uapy III us
native plains, and here IA opportunity not 10 DC
lost. So, stepping Anew cet out the way III an
the patti, and, with instantaneous snap ready stood
quietly for my subject pass. On he tcddled until
he c.me within thirty feet vt me, where no suddenly
stopped, and, my surprise, seemed t." fully lake III
the situation. -,
At this stage felt quite that one oi our babies
especially ut this tender age, would have begun 10
rry and han likely retracod Its steps to the nut
from whence II had issued. Not 50, however. thus
infant Navajo; and mark the difference he stsadiiy
determined to reach the lower hut. Very cautiously
leaving the path the side tutthcst from me- he WAS
In the neat instant behind OF the sage-hruses,
which was something ;oot taller than the baby
From this position he peered Through the ,eai.ess
twigs OF me, to what would do ABOUT It, htte
ANNOYED at this affairs, threw tho focusing
cloth over my head, and turned tho instrument on
him. Taking advantage OF this temporary conceal
ment OF my head he thoroughly baby fashion, 10
the next lower brush, distance OF some ten feet,
where hiding before he crouched down. and stared
at me like young lynx through the twigs lie now
looked tor all tho world the young Indian cub at oy,
with all the native nstinct, OIL his ancestors on the
alert and making Of all the strategy his BABY
mind could muster. 1t was wonderfully interesting
picture to study but, feniins that would lose
nept with the Wow OF taking much nearer position,
when again facing the brush where bad last seen
hal scam percd to the next lower one IN the direction
OF the hut tor which 1t found. full-grVwh buck
of the tribe could not have possibly managed tins iast
movement any better. As y ran to the stu ne1t
LAYER brush ! was astonsbcd beyond measure li0r,
take it. good stalker myself how how, Il took al,
inc aisauce and how after It arrived ut the brush,
Immediately took position on the opposite side OF IT,
from where could make another QUICK start and yet
nnt lose sl.ht OF my movements. And mud y0u all
this from baby only ten months Old at tue most a, as
lower hut In sheer desperation ran uD on its last
place IT concea n,ent holding my camera IN such
wav that could immediately place the tripod in
no.ition, winch succeeded In doing with the ens
svsed directly at It's head and not thu go feet from it.
IL now stood up the full extent Of its baby height
eno giving vent to genuine intantilc oawl, 1t oade
break the final point OF its destination tor thore
was nothing else lett for II to do 1t is almost need
less to add that, before could iocns and insert Q
mate nv Navajo baby out OF range And,
tearing that it's angsred motber might appear at any
point at the cry Of alarm Of her onid, immediately
iorsoOk the ground: ....
,.c ma h,s IL to simply draw attention to the TACT
toat the native instincts Of these American Indians are
az h;bt.d in their young at wonderfully tunder aye
and in this particular they differ vastly from our
own children ut o corresponding time of life. and
reared as they have been for ages in civilized en-
yirOnnent.